29 October 2007

9 comments:

the bugs are winning, there is no question about that. Yet I doubt this new hysteria will be enough to stop people on insisting for an antibiotic prescription if they have a cough that lasts for more than a few days. I dunno, call it a hunch.

Not related to this, but please check out Grand Rounds today at http://runningahospital.blogspot.com/2007/10/grand-rounds-volume-4-number-6.html. Some moving and insightful stories about experiences in hospitals. Thanks.

People are freaking out. I saw about 15 wrestlers from a school, all with basically acne, requesting antibiotics for their "MRSA". Maybe 2-3 really had it, and none with an abscess. This really is a very minor problem for most people, folks. I'm really getting tired of the media hysteria, and the absolute inability of lay people to look beyond the headlines.

I heard some talk yesterday that we may start doing a rapid MRSA test in one of the labs I work in. I haven't read much about it yet, but I have a feeling it will be a popular test. Does your lab offer it? If so, do you order this test on ED patients?

Shadowfax

About me: I am an ER physician and administrator living in the Pacific Northwest. I live with my wife and four kids. Various other interests include Shorin-ryu karate, general aviation, Irish music, Apple computers, and progressive politics. My kids do their best to ensure that I have little time to pursue these hobbies.

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